BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY | THE WAY FORWARD

their horizons, builds confidence in their ability to pursue academic study, and encourages aspirations for themselves and their families. The program’s emphasis on medicine is especially meaningful, equipping participants with practical knowledge about health while fostering rehabilitation; on two occasions, prisoners used resuscitation skills learned through the program to save lives in prison. Since its establishment, around 160 prisoners have participated in this joint initiative of BGU’s Community Action Department and the Israel Prison Service. The program concludes with a moving ceremony attended by prisoners, their families, and Prison Service representatives, where participants reflect on its profound impact. Recognized by the Israel Prison Service as a highly successful and unique initiative, the program opens the door to higher education, personal growth, and brighter futures for participants and their families. Visions and Voices Established based on the belief that genuine human encounters can lead to understanding, creativity, and social change, the Visions and Voices program, which was launched in 2025 with donor support, connected 40 BGU students with diverse Negev communities in its inaugural year. Photography lies at the heart of this initiative, and it is used by both students and community members to amplify diverse voices and enhance social visibility in a photography exhibition held on campus. In the program, photography gives new voice to community members, providing an opportunity to share their perspective and life experience on a new platform, while students acquire new skills and insights, receive social entrepreneurship training, volunteer in community organizations, and develop and implement a community oriented initiative tailored to the needs of the organization and its constituency. Bishvil Ha’Daat The Bishvil Ha’Daat (both “For the Knowledge” and “Path to Knowledge”) program provides adults with special needs with a pathway to knowledge while giving them the opportunity to experience university life. Established 12 years ago, the program now serves over 50

participants from across Southern Israel, who travel to the Marcus Family Campus to take courses taught by BGU students in the life sciences, psychology, communications, art, geography, politics and government, finance, and management. As participants enter the world of higher education, they discover that knowledge can be found in every field and that it belongs to everyone, including them. Their horizons expand as they engage with new ideas, ask questions, and contribute to classroom discussions in an environment that values their curiosity and perspectives. Beyond the classroom, participants build friendships, take part in field trips, and gain the confidence that comes from learning in an academic setting. Since its inception, around 500 adults have participated in the program, which has grown from a single course with 11 participants into a thriving initiative. In 2017, the program received the Point of Life Prize from the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs, and it continues to earn high praise from participants and their families for fostering learning, social inclusion, and personal fulfillment.

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